JOHN PRINE 2005 OREGON CONCERT REVIEWS

Schnitzer Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
mAY 20, 2005 - With Support: Tom Russell

By: zac aulson
I won't add much to what John wrote about the Portland show, but I'm a younger fan who's seen/heard JP only in the last 5-7 years (I'm in my late-20s), and from reading this site can see clearly how well he gets across to audiences of ALL ages! Some of us may have missed the prime of his voice, but no one engages an audience like John Prine. Man, no one can write a song like him either. I had the rare treat of taking someone who had never heard a single song too, and she enjoyed it just about as much as I did! I told her no matter what, she'd wake up the next day a Prine fan. Easy for me, I just had to bring her there, since John does all the rest. 

The boys were fantastic as always too, such perfect accompaniment I can't imagine it any other way really. Jason played harmonica for most of Six O'Clock News, I don't remember him playing one for a whole song before. Tom Russell & his guitar player (?) on Paradise brought the house down and I can't say I've enjoyed that closer more before. 27 songs, including 8 in the solo set, which seemed extra generous to me as well. My first west coast Prine show. Come back soon, John...

By: john duval
I never heard him live when he was in his prime. To bad. I think I missed a national treasure. I've heard the records ( a few ) and I like them. His delivery was always quirky and that appealed to me. The passage of time and the ravages of cancer have taken it's toll, but the guy delivered two hours of some of the most engaging back porch Americana I've heard in decades. Humor was his strong suit I believe and he's lost non of that, along with the impromptu rap. Five thousand people were obviously die hard fans and with most of audience singing along to the better known tunes, it was just a gas. I had forgotten how many of his songs had stayed with me all these years. Especially the political ones which he dished up with much glee and it is obvious that they have as much bearing today as when he wrote them decades ago. He was positively giggling with mirth as he took a few jabs at the current emperor. And then he got serious with a heart felt rendition of Sam Stone that just keeps getting more gut wrenching with the passage of time. I was hoping for one song in particular but when he ended the set I wasn't disappointed. But then came the encore and the closing tune. Out came the opening act, Tom Russell and his guitar player and along with Prine and his band, put it away with what I had come to hear. A ten minute version of Paradise that just had me almost in tears. John and Tom trading verses and the guitar players trading choruses, It was just too much. And with the audience singing the chorus it became almost a devotional. I just beamed up. So that's the review from PDX. A gig worth every dime of the fifty bucks I paid for the ticket. Freaking outstanding. Makes me realize again that we boomers may have had our faults, but we produced a generation of musicians the like of which this country is not to see again for a long time. If ever.

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